Articles: sars-cov-2.
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Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench · Jan 2020
Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and C-reactive protein level as prognostic markers in mild versus severe COVID-19 patients.
This research aimed to investigate neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with C-reactive protein to identify potential clinical predictors and analyze differences among severe and non-severe COVID-19 patients. ⋯ The findings of this study indicated that the integration of NLR and CRP may lead to improved predictions and is recommended as a valuable early marker to assess prognosis and evaluate the severity of clinical symptoms in COVID-19 patients.
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Respir Med Case Rep · Jan 2020
Case ReportsSARS-CoV2 induced pulmonary embolism and complications from anticoagulation.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has rapidly spread around the world. As new complications associated with the virus become more apparent, concerns in the medical community continue to grow. One of the more commonly encountered and more troubling complications in critically ill patients has been hypercoagulable state and subsequent thrombotic events. ⋯ Literature review suggests that pulmonary clot burden in COVID-19 patients could be due to pulmonary thrombus rather than pulmonary embolism and is triggered by profuse vascular damage and severe inflammatory response. Literature review also proposes changes to the diagnostic work up in COVID-19 patients, such as earlier screening for pulmonary embolism in critically ill. In addition, rare and severe complications of current anticoagulation therapy is illustrated and discussed through one of the cases presented.
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Frontiers in immunology · Jan 2020
Potential Cross-Reactive Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 From Common Human Pathogens and Vaccines.
The recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 causing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is particularly virulent in the elderly while children are largely spared. Here, we explored the potential role of cross-reactive immunity acquired from pediatric vaccinations and exposure to common human pathogens in the protection and pathology of COVID-19. To that end, we sought for peptide matches to SARS-CoV-2 (identity ≥ 80%, in at least eight residues) in the proteomes of 25 human pathogens and in vaccine antigens, and subsequently predicted their T and B cell reactivity to identify potential cross-reactive epitopes. ⋯ Worldwide, children receive several DTP vaccinations, including three-four doses the first year of life and one at 4-6 years of age. Moreover, a low antigenic Tdap dose is also given at ages 9-14. Thereby, children may well be protected from SARS-CoV-2 through cross-reactive immunity elicited by DTP vaccinations, supporting testing in the general population to prevent COVID-19.
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This study aims to investigate the social interest in SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 in the Internet media during the epidemic in Poland and serves as a complement to longitudinal surveys monitoring public perception in real time. ⋯ Traditional and social media do not only reflect reality, but also create it. Interest in COVID-19 (measured by topic intensity on the Internet) is unrelated to the officially notified viral pressure (measured by incidence) and probably physical risk of acquiring infection in Poland. As traditional media are ahead of social media in time, we advise to choose traditional news media for a quick dissemination of information, however for a greater impact, social media should be used. Otherwise public information campaigns might have less impact on society than expected.
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Therap Adv Gastroenterol · Jan 2020
Case ReportsTocilizumab and liver injury in patients with COVID-19.
Current mortality rate in patients with COVID-19 disease is about 2%, whereas 5% of patients require admission to the intensive care unit. It is assumed that interleukin (IL)-6 may be involved in the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19 infections; therefore, in the absence of a specific antiviral therapy, some authors have suggested that tocilizumab - a drug used to block the signal transduction pathway of IL-6 - could have beneficial effects in the management of severe COVID-19 disease. However, mild-to-moderate elevation in transaminases and drug-induced liver injury have been observed in patients treated with tocilizumab. ⋯ After tocilizumab administration, clinical condition rapidly improved and liver function test normalized within 3 weeks of treatment. Tocilizumab may be effective for the treatment of severe COVID-19 disease, even in patients with elevated liver function tests. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of tocilizumab use on liver function tests in patients with pre-existing chronic liver disease.